Dodgers Interview: Sasaki Checks the First Rehab Box: Healthy Arm, Honest Self-Assessment

OKLAHOMA CITY — Roki Sasaki’s first rehab start in the Dodgers’ system delivered the one result that matters most at this stage: he came out healthy and finished on his planned pitch count. “First of all, I’m glad I was able to get through it without any physical issues and finish as planned,” Sasaki said after the outing. “From a performance standpoint, there are still things I need to work on, but taking that into account, I want to make adjustments and be ready for my next outing.”

Health first, intensity next

Asked specifically about shoulder discomfort—the red-line concern throughout his ramp-up—Sasaki emphasized that the body checked out, but the intent wasn’t all the way there. “Early on, I felt a little ‘loose’ going into the game, and I think I held back a bit in terms of effort,” he admitted. “Because of that, I didn’t really feel fatigued. I want to make sure next time I can go out with more intensity from the start and be able to bring my best stuff.”

The line and the why

On paper, the results were bumpy—6 hits and 3 runs in 2 innings—but the process told a more nuanced story. “The splitter was good at times, and I was able to use the two-seamer effectively,” Sasaki said. “The cutter wasn’t great, and more than anything, my fastball velocity was down… I didn’t realize my velocity was low until after the fact. In the second inning, I tried to ramp it up and it came up about 2 mph, so that was better, but I still feel I came in too passively at the start.”

Even with the dial not fully turned up, there were encouraging pockets. “Yes, after I made some adjustments to my delivery, it felt pretty good,” he said of his fastball command. “I just need to be able to maintain command even when I’m trying to throw harder. Overall, there wasn’t much life in my pitches today, so it’s hard to evaluate, but compared to my last bullpen or live BP, my mechanics felt better. I just need to add more life and intent.”

Adjusting to hitters—and a different style of game

Sasaki also noted the style of play he faced—aggressive swings, bunts, pressure on the bases—looked different from what he often sees in Japan. “Yes. Even the leadoff hitter came out swinging aggressively,” he said. “Of course, I have things I want to execute regardless of results, but today I wasn’t able to perform at the level I wanted, and that’s what I regret most.”

Mechanically, observers might have noticed a slightly shorter arm action. Sasaki clarified it wasn’t an intentional change. “It was more about my timing being off today,” he said. “If my timing had been better, my velocity probably would have been closer to where it was in live BP… That was disappointing.”

A new wrinkle: the two-seamer

One of the most intriguing takeaways: Sasaki is leaning into a true two-seamer more than before. “Today, I tried to create more run on it on purpose, and I got some weak contact and ground balls, so I think it was effective,” he explained. He estimates he threw “three or four” two-seamers and has been workshopping grips. “Yes, I learned a few different grips from the coaches, and I picked the one that felt best for me. My natural movement already has a bit of run, so it was easy to adapt.”

The plan from here

Back in June, the target was roughly five innings and 75 pitches by late August. After this first step, Sasaki framed the challenge ahead as performance-driven rather than health-driven. “I feel no physical discomfort at this point. The issue now is more performance than health,” he said. “I’m confident in my health, but I need to get to a level where I can perform effectively in the majors and in important games in September. I think I’ll continue with rehab starts in the minors.”

Getting this first one out of the way matters. “Yes,” he said when asked if it brought peace of mind. “A real game is a different environment from live BP, so it’s a positive step forward. Of course, I also found areas I need to work on, so next time I want to avoid making the same mistakes, continue to make new adjustments, and ultimately be ready to pitch in the majors.”

Building the body for the stretch run

Alongside pitch refinement—“In terms of pitches, I’ve been working on the cutter and slider”—Sasaki is adding more strength work. “I’ve been doing more upper-body work, which I hadn’t really done before,” he said. “It’s more for durability and body balance than velocity… now I think it’s the right time to add it.”

Mindset: urgency without rushing

Sasaki’s competitive itch to rejoin the Dodgers is obvious, but so is his discipline. “Of course,” he said when asked if watching games at Dodger Stadium makes him want to hurry back. “As a baseball player, if I’m not pitching in games and contributing, it feels like I’m not doing my job. But I can’t just rush back—I need to focus on what I have to do right now. I have both the desire to return quickly and the understanding that I need to prepare properly before I do.”

Even the clubhouse banter feeds the push. Teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto and other Japanese Dodgers kept it simple. “They didn’t really say ‘don’t rush,’ but they did tell me to ‘hurry up and pitch again’ (laughs).”

What it means for the Dodgers

For Los Angeles, the headline is simple: no physical setbacks, real game reps, and clear self-diagnosis from a frontline-talent arm. The velocity and “life” will be the next checkpoints—as Sasaki put it, adding “more life and intent” without losing the newfound command. The experimental two-seamer that produced weak contact could become a useful complement to his signature splitter, especially against right-handed hitters.

Most importantly, Sasaki’s own timeline is grounded in readiness, not dates. “I’m confident in my health,” he said, “but I need to get to a level where I can perform effectively in the majors… I think I’ll continue with rehab starts in the minors.”

For a first step, that’s exactly what the Dodgers—and Sasaki—needed.

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